It's the homeowner's job Similarly, a homeowner must also keep gutters clean, as gutters are part of the roofing system. Many landlords don't want the responsibility of sending a tenant up a ladder to take care of the dangerous task of cleaning gutters. And now, let's get back to our main topic. Although tenants have a responsibility to keep the rented property in good condition, take care of the garden, and address minor repair issues, cleaning and maintaining gutters is often a landlord's obligation.
You see, the landlord is responsible for keeping your investment in rental condition and when gutters suffer normal wear and tear problems, it is NOT the tenant's job to remedy them at their cost. It's also a smart financial option, as the system will pay for itself, as it can skip gutter cleaning sessions (and can avoid costly liability issues). How often gutters and downspouts are cleaned depends on the location of the property and its surroundings. While cleaning gutters is a very simple process, it's one of those things that will take you an entire afternoon if you don't know what you're doing.
And to confirm the above, the RTA (the Residential Leasing Authority) clearly stipulates who is actually responsible for cleaning gutters in a rental property, as well as some exceptions to the rule. You may be able to negotiate some terms that are good for you, such as cleaning the gutters to reduce that month's rent. Paying a tenant's medical bills and lost wages will cost you much more than paying to have gutters cleaned professionally every two years. Just like in my other post on plumbing issues, I will try to answer the question of who is responsible for cleaning gutters.
Keep calm and allow them to arrange a professional gutter inspection and cleaning service, during which the cause of the problem can be easily determined. That's why it's important that the determination of who should clean the gutters be made before both parties sign a lease. It's definitely a gray area, and many tenants aren't aware of what's expected of them when it comes to cleaning gutters. Otherwise, the general rule is that gutter cleaning should be done once every 12 months, better - in late autumn, when nearby trees have already lost their leaves.
Therefore, regular gutter cleaning ensures that fallen leaves and twigs, tree flowers, and sometimes insect, rodent and bird nests and debris, are removed in time and long before major blockages occur. If you tell the landlord it's time to clean the gutters and he refuses to do so, you may need to see what state law says about tenant and landlord responsibilities.
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